Maybe it would help me if we focus on what the penalty/infraction is. I know it looks horrible and Clutterbuck probably has a blown out knee, but...

-They called kneeing, but it wasn't. He got him with the hip.

-I didn't think it was particularly late, the puck was in his skates a 1/4 second before the hit.

-It wasn't charging, he was gliding.

-No head contact. No elbowing.

-I don't think it was low enough to be 'clipping'. He got clipped in the literal sense, but he wasn't hit below the knee, per the rule.

I'm not sure what you suspend him for? I think Clutterbuck was about to get hammered and then cut hard towards the center almost avoiding the hit, but causing it to only catch his leg. I think Hall came in a little low with the hip, so he could be punished for that, I guess, but if he catches him squarely it isn't even a penalty. He just didn't get enough of him.

Wish the best for Clutterbuck -- it looks horrible.

Sorry Fletch I disagree. It was a leg to knee hit. Look at the reverse angle. The hip isn't what makes contact. It's the inside of Hall's knee and leg to Clutterbuck's knee.

Fletch, I looked at three different angles - where does Hall's hip touch him? I can't see him make any contact with his hip.

Looks like hip/thigh to me. He certainly doesn't stick his knee out. The unfortunate thing for Clutterback is that his knee is out to the side while he cuts back inward. I wouldn't say either guy sticks the knee out. It looks to me like Hall is trying to catch him with the hip and Clutterbuck is trying to avoid it. No?

I'm not sure about Hall's intent, but it sure did look like a good spot to deliver an open ice hit about a half-second before it happened.

Fletch, look at the clip in the OP at the 25 second mark, that angle sure makes it look to me like he did stick his knee out, only made contact using his knee, and placed it squarely into Clutterbuck's thigh just above the knee.

It definitely was not blindside. But, as I look at more angles I can see where it may have been more knee/thigh than hip/thigh. Still hard for me to tell. It looks to me like the hip is further extended out than the knee, but because Clutterbuck's leg is also sticking out, the knees collide.

I don't know. It won't bother me in the least if Hall gets in trouble for going low and making contact with the knee (injuring another player), but I still find this one to be less problematic than many others. I don't see the intent there (not that any of us can rule on that).

I see Clutterbuck coming up the ice, looking down and sort of kicking at the puck. That's a big green light for an open ice hit, especially from where Hall is coming. Hall decides to go for the hit as Clutterbuck leaves the puck and cuts inward. It happens fast, Hall misses most of the body, and the knees collide. I can't imagine that Hall planned it that way.

Back to shupe's point, I think it is getting really hard to deliver an open ice hit and this is what happens when you miss by a fraction of a second and end up clipping a guy instead of getting a bigger piece of him. And you're trying to avoid going high on a guy. I know many here disagree.

I see this as a brutally vicious play with full intention. No, you can't target the head or use your elbows. That just means you have to go old school and use such crazy body parts as shoulder and hips.

No Ulfie as much as Bryan Marchment.

I hope he gets five games minimum for a dirty play that has absolutely no place in any hockey league. And when Clutterbuck comes back...if Clutterbuck comes back...I hope he pounds Hall through the ice. Multiple times.

And to the "Seggy is better" guy: You're a tool.

Was there anyone more filthy with the knees , than Bryan Marchment ? ....nope

I kind of agree with shupe here -- this isn't quite as easy as people are making it. Maybe Clutterbuck didn't have the puck, but he sure looked like he was taking it until the last second. Hall was lining him up before he decided to skate over the puck and leave it for his teammate. I don't have a problem with trying to hit him there.

Now, obviously it became a clip and he caught just the leg, which is bad. But like shupe said, you're avoiding the head, you're avoiding sticking out the elbow, and there is a last second change (not taking the puck). So Hall has to react pretty quickly and it may be that second of indecision that causes him to clip him instead of hitting him outright. He throws out the hip though, not the knee.

So maybe he deserves a game or two, but let's admit that it is really, really hard to deliver an open ice check these days. I am one that doesn't think Hall is being predatory here. Looks like a mistake. Hip check gone bad.

That's what I see too Fletch and you know how much it pains me to agree with Shupe in any way whatsoever.

After what happened to one of my all-time favorite players in Cam Neely, blatant knee on knee/thigh hit are egregious enough to get on the list. I have other guys on their for diving, hits to the head, yapping, launching to hit, unwarranted celebrations...

After what happened to one of my all-time favorite players in Cam Neely, blatant knee on knee/thigh hit are egregious enough to get on the list. I have other guys on their for diving, hits to the head, yapping, launching to hit, unwarranted celebrations...

I kind of agree with shupe here -- this isn't quite as easy as people are making it. Maybe Clutterbuck didn't have the puck, but he sure looked like he was taking it until the last second. Hall was lining him up before he decided to skate over the puck and leave it for his teammate. I don't have a problem with trying to hit him there.

Now, obviously it became a clip and he caught just the leg, which is bad. But like shupe said, you're avoiding the head, you're avoiding sticking out the elbow, and there is a last second change (not taking the puck). So Hall has to react pretty quickly and it may be that second of indecision that causes him to clip him instead of hitting him outright. He throws out the hip though, not the knee.

So maybe he deserves a game or two, but let's admit that it is really, really hard to deliver an open ice check these days. I am one that doesn't think Hall is being predatory here. Looks like a mistake. Hip check gone bad.

That's what I see too Fletch and you know how much it pains me to agree with Shupe in any way whatsoever.

Yea & pains me to agree with any Maritimer let alone 2 of them! If Stevegm says he's in agreement with us I'm gonna throw up!

I don't think there was any malice on Hall's part here. He's was pretty reckless in juniors and hasn't quite been cured of it in the NHL. There's a fine line between fearless and reckless. Hope he figures it out.

Shanny screwed this one up. His explanation is spot on, but his punishment doesn't fit the crime. Should have been 3 games minimum, maybe due to the shortened season he's going to hand out lighter sentences.

After what happened to one of my all-time favorite players in Cam Neely, blatant knee on knee/thigh hit are egregious enough to get on the list. I have other guys on their for diving, hits to the head, yapping, launching to hit, unwarranted celebrations...